I had a humorous exchange with a co-worker this past week. He’s training for his first ultra that’s coming up in a couple weeks (Labor Pains) and I asked how far he was running this weekend. He said “just 20 miles” and immediately paused like he’d just dropped the F bomb. After a second, he…
My 100-Miler Ranks: 2018 Update
I’m now up to nine different 100s over the past couple years. No race is exactly the same and since everyone looks for something different when choosing races, I thought I would give you my ranks in various categories. Disclaimer: These are my own personal opinions based on how I remember them over the past…
Time For a Reset
As a runner, you’re supposed to listen to your body. Muscles more sore than normal? Take an extra day off. Something starting to feel a little off? Cut back your mileage for a week. Sharp stabbing pains every time you lace them up? Schedule an appointment with your doctor of choice and take the rest…
2018 Burning River 100 Mile Race Report
No battle plan survives first contact with the enemy. Helmuth von Moltke the Elder I’ve done enough ultras to know that whatever gameplan I might come up with, no matter how well thought out it might be, will eventually need to be tossed out the window at some point. And BR100 was no exception. I had…
2018 Burning River 100 Preview
I’m in a weird place. I’m a couple days out from my next 100 miler and I’m not nearly as excited as I typically am. I think a large reason for this is that the race only popped up on my calendar about a month ago. So I don’t have the normal 6-9 months of…
Dear 2018 Eastern States 100
Cancelled? What in the wide wide world of sports do you mean cancelled? Maybe I’m still working through the first couple stages of grief, but this just doesn’t seem real. I registered and paid my entry fee, but now I don’t get to run? Let me me backup for a second. I know I’m a…
July’s Long Run
Yesterday was 3 weeks out from my next race, Burning River 100. This is typically my peak week of training, however I haven’t been following much of a training plan since my Bighorn fiasco. There is only 6 weeks between the two races, which right now is just a bit too long to just do…
Wednesday Haiku – 7/4/18
It’s been a while, but inspiration struck during my run yesterday. Humidity high O face, mouth gasping for breath I swallowed a bug
2018 Bighorn 100 Mile Race Report
I went into the race wondering what if any impact the altitude would have on my southeastern PA body. I wasn’t too worried and was comforted by a conversation I had with a runner from Ohio who was sitting next to me on the plane from Minneapolis into Billings. He said he’s run the course…
Bighorn 100 Mile Preview
My big western adventure is about to begin. Between work and life, I’ve been a bit too busy to put together my normal preview post. I feel physically and mentally prepared for the race. Logistics will be a bit more challenging given I’ll be flying to a race for the first time. I think I’ll…